A-G challenge EC over qualification

The Ghanaian Times says in a front-page story that the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Obed Asamoah, has challenged the Electoral Commission's (EC) position that only photo identity card holders can vote in the December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections.

Dr Asamoah in a reaction to the EC's stance on the validity of thumbprinted identity card for voting, quoted Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution and stated that any Ghanaian who is 18 years and has his or her name in the voters' register qualifies to vote.

The EC, he said, cannot use administrative instructions and procedures to amend the constitution and by that disenfranchise numerous Ghanaians who, through no fault of theirs, could not secure the photo identity cards.

He said it was wrong for the chairman of the EC to say only photo identity card holders can vote, especially when it (EC) had earlier said thumbprinted identity card holders could do so.